Andy's library

From The Shawshank Redemption.

Excerpt from The Shawshank Redemption

Andy took over Brooks' job. He was a librarian for 23 years. He used the same willpower I saw in Byron Hadley to get the library he wanted. I saw him gradually turn a small room (it still smelled of turpentine because it was a paint storage room before 1922, and it was never properly ventilated) into the best prison library in New England, which was lined with condensed books of Reader's Digest and National Geographic.

Andy took over Brooke's job. He also worked as a librarian for 23 years. He got what he wanted for the library by dealing with Harry. I watched him gradually expand this small room (originally only displaying Reader's Digest series and National Geographic magazine) into the best prison library in New England.

He did it step by step. He put a suggestion box by the door and patiently eliminated humorous attempts such as more Fuk-Boox Pleeze and escape in10 ez sessions. He is interested in what the prisoners seem to take seriously. He wrote to three major book clubs in new york, and asked two of them, the Literary Association and the Book of the Month Club, to send us all the editions of their major anthologies at extremely low prices. He found a thirst for information about snails' hobbies, such as soap carving, carpentry, magic and card games. He collected all the books on these subjects as much as possible. And Staples, Erie Stanley Gardener and Louis L'Amour in those two prisons. Prisoners never seem to get tired of courts or open spaces. Yes, he did put a box of rather spicy paperbacks under the cashier, carefully lent them out and made sure they always came back. Even so, every new acquisition of this kind was quickly approved to pieces.

He took his time step by step. First, he put a suggestion box by the door, patiently screened out pure joking suggestions, such as "please buy more pornographic books and periodicals" or "please order ten classes about prison break", and then sorted out books that prisoners seemed to need seriously. Then, he wrote to the main book clubs in new york, asking them to send the books they selected at special prices, which was responded by the Literature Association and the Book of the Month Club. He also found that Shawshank's inmates were eager to get information about their leisure hobbies, such as soap carving, carpentry, professional books on handicrafts and solitaire games, and novels by Gardner and larmor, which were very popular in various prisons. Prisoners never seem to get tired of reading books about the court. Also, he hid a box of spicy paperbacks under the borrowing counter. Although he was careful when borrowing books and made sure that every book was returned on time, almost every new book of this kind was quickly rummaged through.

He began to write to the state Senate in Augusta in 1954. At that time, Stamey NASS was the warden, and he often pretended that Andy was some kind of mascot. He always chats with Andy in the library. Sometimes he even puts his arm around Andy's shoulder like his father or gives him a goose. He didn't fool anyone. Andy Dufresne is nobody's mascot.

1954, he began to write to the state legislature. At that time, Stemma had become the warden. He always thought Andy was just a mascot. He often talks nonsense with Andy in the library, and sometimes he puts his arm around Andy's shoulder and plays jokes on him. But he can't fool anyone. Andy is nobody's mascot.

He told Andy that maybe he was a banker outside, but that part of his life was rapidly returning to the past, and he had better grasp the fact of prison life. As far as Augusta's eager Republican Rotarians are concerned, there are only three feasible expenses for taxpayers' money in the fields of prisons and corrections. The first is more walls, the second is more fences, and the third is more guards. Stamas explained that as far as the state Senate is concerned, people in Thomas Tan, Shawshank, Pittsfield and South Portland are social scum. They had a hard time there, God and Sonny Jesus, and this is the hard time they will spend. Wouldn't it be too bad if there were some weevils in the bread?

He told Andy that maybe he was a banker outside, but that was a thing of the past. He had better recognize the reality in prison. In the eyes of arrogant Republican lawmakers in the state legislature, the government spends only three purposes on prison management and probation education: one is to build more walls, the other is to build more bars, and the third is to increase guards. Moreover, in the eyes of state legislatures, the prisoners held in Thomson, Shawshank, Pittsburgh and South Portland prisons are all scum of the earth, and they have come to suffer. If there are a few weevils in the bread, it's really fucking unfortunate!

Andy smiled and asked Stamas what would happen if a drop of water fell on a piece of concrete every year for a million years.

Andy is still smiling with a cool smile. He asked Stemma what would happen if a drop of water fell on a hard concrete block every year for a million years?

Stamas patted Andy on the back with a smile. You don't have a million years, Lao Ma, but if you do, I'm sure you will wear the same smile. You continue to write your letter. If you pay for the stamps, I can even send them for you.

Stemma smiled and patted Andy on the back. "You can't live a million years, man, but if you can live so long, I believe that at that time, you are still the same, with the same smile on your face. Just keep writing your letter, and I'll post it for you as long as you pay the postage yourself. "

Andy did it. He had the last laugh, though Stammas and Hadley didn't see it. Andy's application for library funds was often rejected until 1960, when he received a check for $200-the Senate probably wanted him to shut up and go away. Unreal hope. Andy feels that he has finally taken the first step, and he just redoubled his efforts; Two letters a week instead of one. In 1962, he received $400, and for the rest of this decade, the library received $700 every year. By 197 1, this figure has risen to 1000 USD. I think it's not much compared with ordinary small town libraries, but 1000 dollars can buy a lot of recyclable Mason detective stories and Jack Logan westerns. When Andy leaves, you can go into the library (from the initial pa intlocker to three rooms) and find anything you want. If you can't find it, Andy will probably help you find it.

So Andy went on writing. Finally, he was the last person to laugh, although Stemma and Harry didn't get a chance to see it. Andy keeps writing to the state legislature, asking for funds to subsidize the prison library, but he is repeatedly rejected. But in 1960, he received a check from 200 yuan. The state legislature may want to gag him with this 200 yuan and let him leave them alone. But Andy thought that his efforts had achieved initial results, so he redoubled his efforts. He began to write two letters a week instead of one. 1962 received 400 yuan, and the library received 700 yuan on time every year for the next ten years. 197 1 year, and the subsidy is even raised to a full thousand yuan. Of course, this can't compare with the funds of ordinary town libraries, but at least 1000 yuan can buy a lot of second-hand detective novels and western novels. Before Andy left, you could find almost any book you wanted in the Shawshank Library. Even if you can't find it, Andy will probably help you find it. At this time, the library has expanded from a paint storage room to three rooms.